Pregnancy.

Approximately 1 in 5 women experience low back pain or pelvic pain during their pregnancy.

This can be due to:

  • The increasing weight of your baby weakening the muscles that help to support your back and pelvis (pelvic floor muscles and deep abdominal muscles).
  • The hormonal changes that take place during your pregnancy, this can lead to reduced joint stability around your pelvis and lower back, increasing your risk of pain or discomfort.
  • Previous injury or existing pelvic floor and/or abdominal weakness.

Physiotherapy can help to reduce the pain you experience during your pregnancy

So, why come to see a physiotherapist?

As specialists in muscle and joints problems, physiotherapists use their skills to identify your areas of weakness. With this knowledge, you and your physiotherapist are able to formulate a treatment plan specific to your needs and goals. The resulting muscle strength and joint stability will improve your pain management and mobility, putting you back in control.

So, why see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist

Sally, our Women’s Health Physiotherapist, has additional qualifications, training and experience in women’s health. She will work with you using her traditional physiotherapy skills and her specialist knowledge of the changes that take place during pregnancy. Together you will formulate an individual treatment plan, you will be given the tools to improve your movement quality, muscle strength and posture, making you better equipped to cope with the rest of your pregnancy, and stronger to take on the additional challenges that your new baby will bring.

Other pregnancy related problems we can be help with include:

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, pins and needles in the arms and hands. It can affect one or both arms. The pain is usually worse at night
  • Rib pain, pain on either or both sides of the ribs
  • Rectus Abdominis Divarication, as your baby grows your rectus abdominis muscle (six pack muscle) moves apart, this is normal, however for some women this gap can be greater than 3cm. Often pain free, however it can lead to abdominal pain and contribute to joint instability.
  • Pelvic floor muscle weakness, leaking from the bladder or bowel with coughing, sneezing and or exercise.

When you make an appointment to see Sally, our specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist, you can be confident that your symptoms and movements will be thoroughly assessed and together you will develop a treatment plan to suit your needs.

Treatment may include:

  • Joint mobilisation to improve mobility
  • Soft tissue massage to reduce muscle tension
  • Pelvic floor muscle and deep abdominal muscle exercise
  • Pilates to improve or maintain muscle strength through an enjoyable exercise regime
  • Expert advice and tips on how to minimise your risk of low back and pelvic pain during and after your pregnancy
  • Advice regarding appropriate management of your delivery to improve your outcome after your child is born

What can I do to help myself? For your information Sally our Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist has compiled the following information sheets.

Pelvic Floor Exercise
• National guidelines recommend that all pregnant women are given advice about exercise during pregnancy, including pelvic floor muscle exercises, about 10 weeks into their pregnancy
Postural Tips during Pregnancy
• Modify your posture during your pregnancy to minimise strain on you body.
Sport and Exercise during Pregnancy

New Mums.

For some women their pelvic girdle pain can start after they have delivered their baby possibly due to a traumatic childbirth.

This can be due to:

  • The increasing weight of your baby during pregnancy, weakening the muscles that help to support your back and pelvis (pelvic floor muscles and deep abdominal muscles).
  • The hormonal changes that take place during your pregnancy, this can result in reduced joint stability around your pelvis and lower back and an increased risk of pain. Although your body is no longer releasing these hormones, it will take approximately 5 months before the changes to your body’s tissues return to normal.
  • Difficulty during pregnancy and or childbirth.
  • The additional demands on your life following childbirth.
  • Previous injury or existing pelvic floor and/or abdominal weakness.

So, why come to see a physiotherapist?

As specialists in muscle and joints problems, physiotherapists use their skills to identify your areas of weakness. With this knowledge, you and your physiotherapist are able to formulate a treatment plan specific to your needs and goals. The resulting muscle strength and joint stability will improve your pain management and mobility, putting you back in control.

So, why see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist

Sally, our Women’s Health Physiotherapist, has additional qualifications, training and experience in women’s health. She will work with you using her traditional physiotherapy skills and her specialist knowledge of the changes that take place during pregnancy and as a result of childbirth. Together you will formulate your individual treatment plan, you will be given the tools to improve your movement quality, muscle strength and posture and therefore manage your pain, giving you the confidence to take on the new challenges that an increasing family brings.

Physiotherapy can help with other problems that you may be experiencing after your delivery

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, pins and needles in the arms and hands. It can affect one or both arms. The pain is usually worse at night
  • Rib pain, pain on either or both sides of the ribs
  • Neck and mid back pain
  • Rectus Abdominis Divarication, as your baby grows your rectus abdominis (six pack muscle) moves apart, this is normal, however for some women this gap can be greater than 3cm. Often pain free, however it can lead to abdominal pain and contribute to joint instability.
  • Pelvic floor muscle weakness, leaking from the bladder or bowel with coughing, sneezing and or exercise.
  • Bladder problems, an urgent desire to empty your bladder, an increase in the number of times you need to empty your bladder during the day.
  • Bowel problems, difficulty controlling wind, difficulty controlling bowels.

If you are experiencing bladder, bowel or prolapse problems, you will be able to speak to Sally in absolute confidence. Many of these problems are caused by muscle weakness resulting from pregnancy and delivery. All muscles can be strengthened by exercise; the muscles damaged during childbirth (pelvic floor muscles) are no different. Following your appointment with Sally you will be confident that you have been given a specific regime that addresses your problem. The knowledge that you are taking control of your problem will help your progress to stress free activity.

For your information Sally our Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist has compiled the following information sheets: Post Natal Postural Tips
Post Natal Sport and Exercise
Pelvic Floor Exercise

Physiotherapy and Gynaecological Surgery.

Optimal pelvic floor muscle function is known to assist bladder and bowel function and pelvic organ support, as well as other areas of health. It is also known that problems in some of these areas can be a consequence of pelvic surgery. By addressing pelvic floor muscle function there can be a reduction in the long term prevalence of bladder problems, bowel difficulties and weakened pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.

Preparing for an operation

Prior to gynaecological surgery, assessment of your pelvic floor muscle activity by our Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist, can ensure that optimum strength and function is achieved. Expert advice on exercise and general well-being can also be given in preparation for surgery.

Following your surgery

Post-operative follow-up by our Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist will ensure that appropriate progression of abdominal and pelvic floor muscle exercises, as well as tailored lifestyle advice, can be given to aid recovery.